Holcomb Back On Top Of NRC

Seen here in Joe Martin's leader's jersey, Janel Holcomb (Colavita/Forno d'Asolo) is back on top of NRC standings

Winner of the overall BMC Cascade Cycling Classic, Janel Holcomb (Colavita/Forno d’Asolo) is back on top of the NRCwomen’s individual standings. Racing aggressively, Holcomb slipped into the winning break on the final day to take the leader’s jersey from Clara Hughes (Cycling BC) in Bend on Sunday. It’s not the first foray for Holcomb on top of the standings; she was in the lead after winning the Joe Martin Stage Race in May but slipped down to second after Amber Neben (HTC-Highroad) won Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Holcomb now leads Neben with 134 points. With Neben not racing any more NRC races this year, her closest competitor is Erinne Willock (TIBCO/To The Top) at 217 points down.

With the overall, two stage win and winner of the team classification at Cascade, the Colavita/Forno d’Asolo increased its lead in the NRC women’s team standings. TIBCO/To The Top remains in second place, at 850 points down. No changes to top 5 with HTC-Highroad, Diadora-Pasta Zara and Primal/MapMyRide remaining in their spots.

Winner of the team classification at Cascade, the BISSELL Pro Cycling team increased its lead by 264 points in the NRC men’s team standings. In third place, Jamis/Sutter Home closed the gap to 289 points on second-placed UnitedHealthcare. Team Exergy remains in fourth with only a slim 2-point edge on Realcyclist.com.

The NRC continues with two criteriums this weekend. This Saturday, July 30, brings the big money crit in Charlotte, North Carolina – the 1.1-rated Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium. The Charlotte crit is also part of the USA Crits series. The men’s purse in Charlotte is $50,000.00 (plus primes) with $12,500.00 for the winner. The women will race for a purse of $25,000.00 plus lap primes, and $7,500.00 on the line for the winner.

Originally slated to be a stage race, the Tour de Nez will now consist of a 1.4-rated crit for both men and women on Sunday, in Reno, Nevada. The total purse for the men is $15,000.00 with $3754.71 for the winner, and $7,500.00 for the women with $2084.64 for the winner.